KNOXVILLE, Iowa – After laying claim to the past two 360 sprint car championships at Knoxville Raceway, Carson McCarl is taking a step up in the world for next year.
McCarl will compete full time in the 410 sprint car division at the half-mile Marion County Fairgrounds dirt track, competing for the track title in its premier class with his familiar, family-owned No. 27.
He confirmed the news on his official Twitter account late Thursday morning.
Was a great season @knoxvilleraces. Can’t thank @JetcoJW @JetcoNW and all of our great partners enough. Looking forward to going for the 410 championship in 2021! https://t.co/neHgWwxYky
— Carson McCarl Racing (@CarsonMcCarl) October 29, 2020
In an abbreviated 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McCarl scored two victories and six top-five finishes in the nine features that were completed for the 360 class at Knoxville.
McCarl never finished outside the top 10 in any of those nine races. He also set the fastest time in qualifying twice and was the season-long 360 Hard Charger at Knoxville, advancing 28 positions throughout the nine races held.
Aside from his recent 360 successes at Knoxville, McCarl is also a 305 sprint car track champion at the black dirt half mile, capturing that championship in 2011.
That year, McCarl became the youngest winner in the history of Knoxville Raceway, winning at 16 years, one month old in his Knoxville 305 sprint car debut.
He’s been the rookie of the year in all three Knoxville sprint car classes – 410s, 360s and 305s (now Pro Sprints) – and his father, well-known veteran Terry McCarl, is a seven-time 410 track champion at Knoxville.
Carson McCarl previously ran in Knoxville’s 410 sprint car class in 2018, the year he captured rookie-of-the-year honors in the division.